Congratulations to Hawaii for Leading In US Shark Protections

Guess Who Keeps Snacks In Their Armpits?

Virtual Ocean Conservation Webinar

Listen to the Sounds of Fish on A Reef

Documentary - Puff: Wonders of the Reef

SeaSmart's July 2022 Student week (July 9-16) and Adult week (16-23) registration is rolling 

SeaSmart's Diversity Scholarship Applications Due March 1st-Register Online

Shark fishing in Hawaii is banned since New Year’s Day 2022

We all know how important sharks are.  They keep the ocean ecosystem in balance by regulating and ensuring the health of other marine life populations and reefs. The State of Hawaii's Division of Aquatic Resources has announced that shark fishing is officially banned, thanks to a bill passed by the state legislature.  According to Act 51 (House Bill 533), it is illegal to contain, entangle, or kill all shark species in state marine waters.  

Creature Feature: Sea Otters

An endangered species, the adult sea otter is the smallest of the marine mammals. It’s a member of the weasel family, and the only marine mammal that doesn’t have blubber to keep it warm. Instead the sea otter relies on its thick double layer of fur to keep its body temperature around 100 degrees. 

Under each forearm are baggy pockets of loose skin. The sea otter uses these pockets to store food it has gathered. It also stores favorite rocks that it uses for cracking open mollusks and clams.  

The sea otter has a very buoyant body. This is due to all the air trapped in its fur, and also to its large lung capacity, two and a half times greater than other animals its size. The sea otter can hold its breath up to five minutes underwater. All these parts working together make the sea otter one furry fantastic creature.

Quiet Down, You Noisy Fish! 

When you spend time diving or snorkeling, one of the things many people enjoy is the quiet sounds of nothing but bubbles. Sometimes, if you listen closely, you can hear parrot fish munching the algae on the reef.  It turns out you can hear a lot more!

Let Us Know What You Think!

We enjoyed the breathtaking videography as we watched Puff, a juvenile pufferfish, navigate the challenges of the ocean to find a home on the Great Barrier Reef.

There are still a few spots left for our  program in Baja Sur, Mexico!

We have already begun to receive registrations for both the student and adult programs in Baja this July. There's so much planned for citizen scientists looking for an amazing experience. Partnering with an incredible team of local conservationists, scientists and dive professionals, our participants will gain exposure to experiences unique to Baja.  Mornings include diving and/or dive training, followed by afternoons and evenings filled with expert-led activities, citizen science research & adventures and workshops by scientists from the Mobula Conservation Project/Manta Trust as well as Pelagios Kakunja Marine Conservation. Sharks, and their elasmobranch cousins the rays, are important members of the local ecosystem, and they are threatened by a variety of factors, which will be investigated in detail. We will join local scientists as they perform important surveys, data collection and sampling/tagging activities. Diving with Sea Lions is always a thrilling experience.  Ocean Safaris include searching for dolphins, rays and any other surprise guests we may find - and jump in to join them in the ocean. Sites are known for many sea turtle sightings-including green sea, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles. After a night dive, we will enjoy unparalleled stargazing and a campfire. Beach cleanups are always conducted, so we can leave our destination just a little better than when we arrived.   

You can save money by registering early and/or with others. We will work with Baja-based marine biologists to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by rays and sharks, participate in some of the conservation efforts and research taking place, and dive/snorkel with them.  We also will be visiting a local sea lion colony to dive/snorkel with these sea puppies. SeaSmart has continued to update the website with more details and FAQ's, available in the link below, and will continue to share more information as it becomes available.  

Do not hesitate to reach out to our Director at lisa.mcintyre@seasmartocean.org or (201)960-2363 with questions or for additional details.  

We hope you can join us:

Week of July 9-16: Student Week

(Parents are welcome based on availability)

Week of July 16-23: Mermaids/Adults Week

Week of July 23-30: Waitlist Student Week

Due to the custom nature of our program, we will be limited to 12 participants per week.  For a large group traveling together, alternative arrangements can be made to the program. 

We Are Searching For This Year's Diversity Scholar!

SeaSmart hopes to provide qualified students with an opportunity to explore their interest in ocean conservation, marine biology and SCUBA diving. This scholarship is offered to address the underrepresentation of women and minorities in marine science studies and will award funding to support their participation in the SeaSmart Summer 2022 program.  We're looking for female minority high school students who are a member of a minority group(s). (Including but not limited to: Black, Latina, Native American, LGBTQ+.)  We are excited to hear your unique story! Here's the link to additional information and the application:

SeaSmart Swag: New Styles Added!  

We have new additions to our collection of SeaSmart branded items.  The new Protect What You Love style is available on our super cool sweatshirts, and long & short sleeved T's. Choose from a variety of sizes and colors with proceeds going toward the 2022 Diversity Scholarship. Every ocean lover will want one in their stocking this year! 

Don't Worry If You Have Missed Past Newsletters  

SeaSmart monthly newsletters are now available on our website for a rolling year.  You can catch up on all of the cool info and opportunities here: